UK takes philosphical approach to loss to U of L

Leading off the sixth inning, Reed lined a laser into right field. One problem: In U of L’s shift, second baseman Zach Lucas was stationed about 10 yards into right field. The ball went right to him.

With a runner on first in the eighth inning, Reed hit a hard ground ball seemingly headed up the middle and into center field. Instead, U of L turned the unusual short-to-third-to-first double play with the third baseman turning the double play at second.

U of L Coach Dan McDonnell said if without the shift, Reed would have had three hits. Instead, Reed went O-for-4 in his final UK game.

UK Coach Gary Henderson saluted his team’s resolve. Although three U of L runs in the seventh inning built a 4-0 lead, Kentucky answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and might have had more. U of L center fielder Cole Sturgeon, who was named Most Outstanding Player, rushed in to catch a liner and then threw out Thomas Bernal at the plate to end the inning.

“We really had a good spirit about us this entire year,” Henderson said of a UK team that finished with a 37-25 record. “We fought really well. I’m really proud of them in that regard.”

Emotions boiled over in the seventh. U of L’s Alex Chittenden dove at the knees of Bernal trying to score in the top of the inning. Chittenden said afterward he did not intend to go at Bernal’s knees. He just sort of found himself in that position, he said.

Players rushed out of both dugouts, but emotions did not escalate.

In the bottom of the inning, Bernal went high at U of L catcher Shane Crain in an effort to score. Bernal was ejected.

“I don’t think that’s a lack of respect,” Henderson said of the plays. “It might be heightened respect. There was a lot on the line.”

About Jerry

Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.